canfield



(No Model.)

H. O. GANFIELD.

BUSTLE.

Pai ented Sept. 20, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT Crrica.

HENRY O. CANFIELD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CANFIELD RUBBER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,181, dated September 20, 1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY O. CANFIELD, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in bustles. The principal object is to provide a bustle that will be light and comfort-able, yielding to the curvature of the body of the wearer where contact is had with it; and, further, to afford a device of this character that will be collapsible or self-folding when pressure is applied to its extended spring-bows, or when a sitting or reclining position is assumed by the wearer of the skirt-supporter or bustle.

A further object is to construct a folding bustle in a manner that will permit rapid production in quantity at a low initial cost.-

\Vith these objects in View my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure l is a front view of the bustle in extended position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation,in section, showing the bustle folded.

A A represent the body-strips of the bustle. These are made preferably of elastic flattened steel strips that are sufficiently pliable to yield and conform at their upper free ends to the undulations of the body ofthe person wearing this drcsssupporter, which is the evident office performed by this article of female attire.

The body-strips A are covered with muslin, cloth, or other suitable fibrous material,which is extended upon each side edge of the strips to give an ornamental appearance and also afford a sufficient breadth of material at the upper portion of the muslin flaps B to attach the supportingbelt 13, that is furnished with proper means for adjusting the bustle in position when it is Worn.

To the flat surface of thebody-strips A, near their upper and lower ends, the crossed braces C C are rigidly'secured. These are preferably covered with fibrous material, and are tipped with metal to afford a neatfinish to their ends. The cross-braces C are joined bya rivet or eye let at thepoint of contact,and are made of elastic flat strips of metal that form a yielding support to the body-strips A A, and of sufiicient stability to keep these pieces separated,whilc the bending of the braces permits the conformation of the braces and body-strips to the form of the wearer, and afford ease and comfort by their semi-pliability.

Upon the front side of the body strips the spring-bows D I), &c., are pivoted by their ends, a'right-angle plate, I), at each joint,which 6 furnishes a convenient means of attachment of the perforated ends of the springbows to the body-strips and allow the springbows to vibrate vertically.

The spring-bows D are graded in length, their varied bow-projections thus affording a proper general contour of form to the bustle to suit the style required. Upon the upper and second bows, C C, the diagonal bows E E are pivoted, preferably by inserted eyelet- 7 5 connections. The latter-named bows E Eare given such a position relative to the bows C C as to give a rounded shape to drapery supported upon the bustle.

A spacing-band, F, is attached near the cen- So ter of the springbows C C", 850., to hold these bows connected and spaced when the bustle is in an upright position.

Upon the surface of the body-strips A A, preferably near their centers of width and S 5 length, the plate-spring G is attached by its ends rigidly, the depending bowed portion of this fiat spring being of such proportion that the center of the same may be riveted to the center of the lower spring-bow, D, and by this 0 connection exert its torsional as well as tensional strength to hold the spring-bows O O, &c., in an extended and regularly-spaced po sition, the flexible band F aiding to attain this resultin an obvious manner. \Vhenthelower 5 spring-bow is elevated by the wearer of the bustle assuming a sitting or reclining position, the plate-spring G is made to assume the bent form shown in Fig. 2, and the compression of this spring forces it to approach the vertical 10o plane of the body-springs A, thus permitting the simultaneous folding of the other springbows O, C", and D. .A resumption of an upright posture will effect an extension of the bow-springs by reason of the plate-spring G as-, suming its normal position. 7

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bustle, the combination,with a waistband, body-strips, spring-bows pivotally secured to the body-strips, and a tape secured to the waistband and attached to the bows, of a plate-spring secured at its ends to the body- I 5 strips and at an intermediate point to one of the spring-bows, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bustle, the combination,witha waistband, two body-strips, two crossed braces secured at their ends to the body-strips, a set of 20 spring-bows pivotally secured to the bodystrips, and a tape connecting the bows and waistband, of a plate-spring attached to the body-strips and to one of the spring-bows, sub stantiall y as set forth.

3. A bustle having two upright body-strips, two crossed braces joined at their points of crossing and fixed by their ends to the bodystrips, a set of pivoted spring-bows spaced by a flexible band attached to the waistband, and a plate'spring secured by its ends to the bodystrips and its center to the lower spring-bow, so as to twistslightly, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY O. OANFIELD.

Witnesses:

G. E. MELIUs, T. B. LEWIS. 

